Part of the group were 30 feet above the tide line amongst the shoreline vegetation, shoveling and sifting sand for tarballs, and putting them in a mesh sifter and plastic bags.

A fleet of at least seven oil tanker barges and an equal number of supply boats stood at anchor within a mile and a half near the mouth of Mobile Bay, north of the Fort Morgan peninsula. It was unclear why they were anchored.

Tarballs were visible at the water's edge everywhere around the Fort Morgan peninsula. Lines of mousse were seen floating in the water in lower Mobile Bay.